Posted on Fri, Feb 05, 2010 @ 08:48 AM
Orlando Getting Ready for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
ORLANDO -- Universal Orlando Resort has suddenly rolled out a number of high profile ads for the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Could it be a sign that the new attraction will be opening sooner rather than later this spring? Universal would not say.
With a brand new Super Bowl ad, a newly updated Web site and a special interactive map splashed across newspapers nationwide, three major advertisements featuring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in just over the last week have generated lots of interest in the new "theme park within a theme park."
"I know that when Islands of Adventure opened up, everybody was excited about that, but I think this just tops the scale," said Mark Davis, who runs Orlando Discount Tickets USA, a theme park ticket Web site.
Click here to watch Video
Davis said during the last few weeks, 95 percent of his callers and visitors have asked about when Harry's new home is opening.
"When is it opening? We want to be there! Can we buy the package for that time?" the callers ask.
While Universal Orlando will get most of the attention, other tourist businesses have also begun getting ready.
Brian Wong, a local hotel manager, said he has been putting the finishing touches on upgrades for his hotel, and trying to draw in crowds brought in by all of the attention Universal's newest attraction is getting.
"It's newsworthy," Wong said. "It keeps Orlando on the map, and generates interest for years to come."
The crowds and the tourist dollars sure to come are just waiting.
Universal has only revealed that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will open this spring. Experts, however, said that many visitors will stay at home until an exact opening date is set, a day our troubled tourism industry said they can't wait for.
"The excitement of something that people have anticipated and really wanted to see is going to be a huge boost," Wong said.
Still wanting tickets or a Vacation Package to Universal Studios Orlando?
Check out our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Universal Studios & Harry Potter needs...
Posted on Wed, Nov 18, 2009 @ 07:19 AM
Win a Trip to Grand Opening of Harry Potter & The Wizarding World
The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine
The Universal Orlando Resort is running a contest in which you can win a trip to the grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure.
The grand prize is a trip for four to Orlando to participate in the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter sometime in Spring 2010. The official rules state that the specific grand opening dates are not yet determined. Trip package includes roundtrip plane tickets, three nights at a Universal Partner Hotel, and four 2-park Unlimited tickets.
Beyond the grand opening trip, other Potter-related prizes include magic wands, video games, DVDs, and other collectibles.
To enter, visit www.theroadtohogwarts.com and follow the instructions to fill out the registration form. In addition to the basic entry, completing various activities, like watching video clips or downloading wallpaper, will earn you additional entries into the contest.
Each participant can earn up to twenty-three entries throughout the course of the contest. The sweepstakes ends on Dec. 18, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET. with winners selected by the end of the year.
Remember, If you don't win, you can still be there for all the exciting action. Just check out all our Universal Studios Orlando Vacation Packages at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Harry Potter needs.
Posted on Wed, Oct 28, 2009 @ 06:31 AM
Open casting calls for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando
The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine
If you're looking forward to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010 and wish you could conjure up a way to be part of the magic, you will soon have your chance.
Thanks to a post on Orlando United, we've learned that Universal Orlando is holding open casting calls for atmosphere roles as part of the Wizarding World. They're looking for male and female actors who can speak with a British accent. More specifically, Universal is holding calls for male actors with strong improv and interaction skills who are able to portray an age range of mid-thiries to mid-forties. In addition, they're casting male and female actors who are youthful in appearance.
Casting is being held on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. in the Universal Orlando Human Resources Lobby at 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819.
Full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions are available. All actors should prepare a one-minute monologue for audition and candidates must be available for callbacks on Monday, Nov. 16 and rehearsals beginning in January.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been announced to be opening in Spring 2010 so it's good news that Universal has finally begun its casting process.
Still haven't got tickets or your Universal Orlando Vacation Package yet? Then check out our website for all your Universal needs at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com
Posted on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 @ 07:03 AM
Can't wait for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Open? Visit Harry Potter Landmarks
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is coming to Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure next spring. But if you just can't wait that long to see a bit of the Wizarding World in person, travel Web sites Skyscanner & Orlando Attractions Magazine has released these top 12 real life locations for experiencing a bit of the Wizarding World.
1. Kings Cross Station (London, England, UK)
Wizarding World: The famed Platform 9 ¾ is where Harry and his wizarding pals hop aboard the steaming Hogwarts Express at the start of each term on their way to their magical school.
Muggle World: The actual platform used for filming was Platform 4 in London Kings Cross station, but Network Rail have erected a Platform 9 ¾ sign and a luggage trolley magically disappearing into the wall to honour the story, which has made Kings Cross station a must see for fans on the Potter circuit.
2. Goathland, North Yorkshire, (England, UK)
Wizarding World: Hogsmeade Station is the place where Harry and friends disembark the Hogwarts Express before making the onward journey to Hogwarts School.
Muggle World: Goathland station is a real station in North Yorkshire, England, that was used as the film set for Hogsmeade and Potter fans still flock to get their pictures taken at this now famous landmark. Unfortunately you won't see Hogwarts in the distance - it was created using special effects.
3. Alnwick Castle (England, UK)
Wizarding World: The grounds outside Hogwarts where Harry and his classmates have their first ever broomstick flying lesson.
Muggle World: The second largest inhabited castle in England after Windsor Castle, it was used in the filming of the exterior of Hogwarts for the flying lesson scene as well as when Harry crash lands the flying car. Several other locations were also used to film parts of Hogwarts including: Christ Church, Oxford, Durham Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral and Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire.
4. London Zoo (England, UK)
Wizarding World: The place where Harry realizes he is a Parselmouth - i.e. fluent in snake speak - during "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone."
Muggle World: The reptile house in the London Zoo was used to film this slithery scene. Why not see if you can discuss the latest in reptilian fashion with a boa constrictor too?
5. Scotland (UK)
Wizarding World: Though never specifically mentioned in the books, JK Rowling has remarked in interviews that Scotland was the logical setting for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the place where the vast majority of Harry and company's adventures take place.
Muggle World: Scotland is well known for its castles, mansions and noble houses, all of which may have provided Rowling with inspiration for Hogwarts. Glen Nevis was used for some of the Quidditch scenes, and the West Highland Railway was used to film the journey of the Hogwarts Express which also takes in the incredible Glenfinnan Viaduct.
6. Bulgaria
Wizarding World: Bulgaria is home to Durmstrang Institute's wizarding student and international Quidditch champion, Viktor Krum.
Muggle World: Bulgaria's White Brotherhood - a group who believe in supernatural beings of great power, collect in the Seven Lakes region of the Rila Mountains to perform a spiritual dance every year. Here, over a thousand people dressed in white robes move slowly around in huge concentric circles. The spectacle is so impressive that Monty Python star and world traveler, Michael Palin, visited to area to film it for his BBC documentary series, New Europe.
7. Ireland
Wizarding World: The Emerald Isle is home to many magical creatures in the Potter Universe including Imps, (small mischievous creatures), Porlocks, (horse guardians from southern Ireland) and Kelpies (water demons). Ireland is also well known in the wizarding world for being the proud winners of the 1994 Quidditch World Cup.
Muggle World: Catch a hurling match, which is about as close as a Muggles can get to the sport of Quidditch. A hugely popular sport in Ireland, most towns have a hurling field and team.
8. Wales (UK)
Wizarding World: Home to the "Welsh Green" dragon, this species prefers to nest in high mountain regions. It mainly hunts sheep and small mammals but tends to avoid human contact.
Muggle World: Climb Wales' highest and most famous mountain, Snowdon. A typical climbing party takes around five to six hours to reach the summit and come down again, and if you keep your eyes peeled, you may just catch a glance of a Welsh Green. Pembrokeshire in Wales is also the film location for Shell Cottage, home of married couple Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour which will be featured in the "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows" film.
9. Norway
Wizarding World: Home to the native Norwegian Ridgeback dragon which inhabits the northern mountains, this beast has venomous fangs and feeds on large animals and sometimes aquatic mammals. Hagrid succeeds in hatching a Norwegian Ridgeback egg but eventually gives it to Charlie Weasley who takes the dragon to the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary.
Muggle World: Norway's mountains and fjords are a paradise for wildlife; we don't know about dragons, but trolls are a strong part of Norse mythology, said to be devious and fearsome creatures living underground in hills, caves or mountains.
10. Romania
Wizarding World: this eastern European country is home to the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, a preservation area created for the protection and study of dragons. The largest dragon sanctuary in the Potter universe, it was the preferred supplier of dragons for the Triwizard Tournament.
Muggle World: Transylvania in Romania is well known for its spooky, reputedly haunted castles. Ever since Bram Stoker used it as the setting for his Dracula novel, the region has been shrouded in supernatural folklore and associated with vampires, who also form part of the wizarding world in the Potter series.
11. Wollongong (Australia)
Wizarding World: Home to the Woollongong Warriors, one of the strongest Quidditch teams in the Harry Potter Universe and dominators of the Australian Quidditch league, their rivalry with the Thundelarra Thunderers is legendary amongst the Australian magical community as documented in JK's book: Quidditch Through the Ages.
Muggle World: Woollongong is an obvious reference to very similar sounding Wollongong, a city in New South Wales, Australia, noted for its numerous surfing beaches, scenery and botanic gardens, so no doubt an ideal place for wizards to obtain essential ingredients for their potions.
12. Edinburgh (Scotland, UK)
No Harry Potter fan can omit Edinburgh as part of their tour. It was in this fine city (which is also home of Skyscanner) that JK Rowling completed the first book in her series - "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" - reputedly doing much of the writing in cafes around the city. To the dismay of Potter fans, one of her favourite spots, Nicolson's Café, has since turned into an all-you-can eat Chinese restaurant. However, another one of JK's haunts, The Elephant House still stands and a coffee with a bagel here is a must for any Potter Fan.
Other Venues in the Potter Universe
Numerous other buildings were used for film locations including Bodleian Library, Oxford (Hogwarts interiors), Australia House, The Strand London (Gringott's Bank), Martins Heron, Berkshire (Privet Drive) and Leadenhall Market, London (Diagon Alley).
Still haven't got tickets yet to visit Harry Potter and the Wizarding World or your Vacation Package for next year? Visit our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com to book your Universal Orlando Vacation Package.
Posted on Wed, Oct 14, 2009 @ 08:16 AM
Wizarding World of Harry Potter Construction Update at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Video and Photos
The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine
It's time again for an update on the construction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure. There's a lot more to see since our last update as Hogwart's Castle is starting to really look like a castle. The new area of the park is set to open next spring.
Let's start with our first video update, then some photos for a more detailed look, then we'll end with a video from the land's designers walking us through the whole area.
This building, seen from the bridge from The Lost Continent to Jurassic Park, will be the Three Broomsticks restaurant. To the right is Zonko's joke shop, which will be on your left as you enter the Wizarding World.
The best view of the castle is as you're leaving Dueling Dragons. But this view will eventually be going away when they close the ride to start converting it to Dragon Challenge.
You can also see the queue area for the already closed Flying Unicorn ride from the Dueling Dragons queue. Flying Unicorn will become Flight of the Hippogriff.
So, there you have it...The latest update for Harry Potter and the Wizarding World at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure set to open next year....
Still haven't got tickets yet or a vacation package to Universal Studios? Then check out our web site for all your Universal Studios Orlando needs at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com
Posted on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 @ 08:31 AM
Vote For Your Favorite Scene at Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios
After watching Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince movie this past week, many people are looking forward to the next installment in the Harry Potter universe: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure.
Here's what we know about the main attraction in the new land, which will open early in 2010: It will take place inside Hogwarts Castle. You will board after queueing through the Great Hall. The ride vehicles will be four-person seats on Kuka robot arms, mounted from an overhead track. And there will be about 10 scenes in the ride.
But what do you want those 10 scenes to be? Let's vote!
Several potential scenes from the first three Harry Potter books have been selected. They are all scenes from inside Hogwarts Castle and do not include the Great Hall or the entry, which will be part of the queue. Nor do they include the common rooms, well, 'cause you're not supposed to be in common rooms outside your house. ;-) And they do not include any scenes that take place outside the castle, since that's where the ride will be set.
Pick the one you most want to see, from these options, then discuss in the comments.
Posted on Sun, Jul 05, 2009 @ 09:16 AM
Harry Potter & The Wizarding World Looking Good for 2010 Opening
With each of Orlando Florida's theme-park resorts promoting new attractions this year, but it's something that won't open until next year (2010) that really has people talking.
"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," the $200 million-plus "theme park within a theme park" that is scheduled to open by next summer in Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure, has sparked a near-constant stream of speculation about just how the resort will bring the Harry Potter universe to life.
"The industry scuttlebutt is that it will be fabulous," said Bob Rogers, founder of BRC Imagination Arts, a Burbank, Calif.-based attractions-design company. "I see the gleam in the eyes of the people who are working on it. They think they've got a real winner here."
Universal Studios has kept the project - based on the wildly lucrative, seven-book series by British author J.K. Rowling and the movies it inspired - largely shrouded in secrecy. Contractors working on the project have been required to sign confidentiality agreements, and the resort has offered few clues beyond a handful of artist renderings. Universal Studios has also fueled the hype with a series of Harry Potter-themed Internet polls asking fans questions such as what dragon they would like to ride (a Chinese Fireball beat out a Hungarian Horntail) and what they would like to drink (butterbeer bested pumpkin juice).
Shops, Eatery & More:
But interviews with people in and around the project, and a review of public records, offer some details about what to expect.
Plans for the 20-acre Wizarding World of Harry Potter show more than a dozen buildings, including at least three shops, a restaurant and multiple forced-perspective decorative buildings. The centerpiece will be the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the iconic castle and keep from the Harry Potter books and movies.
Universal's Hogwarts, records show, will be 150 feet, or 15 stories, high.
The castle will also house what is expected to be the Wizarding World's signature attraction. Several people familiar with the project, including one person directly involved, said the ride will be what's known as a "robocoaster" - a ride system in which guests sit in seats suspended from a robotic arm that can swivel and swoop in multiple directions while it advances along a track.
Plans show the track snaking through more than a dozen scenes, though what those scenes will be remains a mystery. The attraction, according to the people familiar with it, will also feature an elaborate pre-show queue with special effects such as floating candles and snow falling indoors.
Before they arrive at Hogwarts, guests entering the Wizarding World will pass through Hogsmeade Village, an old-Europe-style town from the Harry Potter novels. Universal's plans for Hogsmeade include The Three Broomsticks restaurant, shops and stylized locker and stroller-parking areas. The few clues Universal Studios has provided indicate the stores will include Dervish & Banges, which sells and repairs magical equipment, and Honeydukes, a sweet shop whose treats include chocolate-covered frogs.
In between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, Universal Studios is building Hagrid's Hut, home of the friendly half-giant. It has also said it plans to re-create the Forbidden Forest, an ominous setting from the books that's home to creatures such as centaurs, unicorns and spiderlike "acromantulas."
Re-themed coasters?
There is little yet to indicate what rides will be included in the Harry Potter Wizarding World beyond the Hogwarts "dark" ride. Part of the Wizarding World is being built in the Lost Continent section of Islands of Adventure, and documents indicate that two existing attractions there - Dueling Dragons, where riders choose between two intertwined roller coasters, and the Flying Unicorn, a children's coaster closed last year as part of the Potter construction - will be incorporated into Harry Potter's world.
Both rides are expected to be re-themed with Harry Potter story lines. Records show, for instance, that Universal Studios plans to add a large tent at the entrance of Dueling Dragons, which fans have speculated will ultimately be converted into a re-creation of a wizarding tournament from one of the books in which one of the events involves stealing eggs from dragons.
Of course, the rides are almost secondary for fans when it comes to the Wizarding World, said Robert Niles, publisher of the Web site www.themeparkinsider.com.
"People are expecting to immerse themselves in the whole Harry Potter universe," Niles said. "Really, a lot more than other attractions, people are going to be paying a lot of attention to the theming, the attention to detail and the atmosphere of the place, more so than the rides."
Universal Studios would not elaborate on any of its plans last week.
"We will be excited to talk about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - when we are ready to do so," spokesman Tom Schroder said.
The off-the-charts anticipation surrounding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter comes with some risk for Universal, said Rogers, of BRC Imagination Arts. "If you're dealing with one of the great intellectual properties like, for example, Star Trek or Harry Potter, you have to work very hard to make sure that you don't disappoint the fan base," he said.
Whatever is ultimately included when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens next year, newer additions will soon follow. Universal's licensing contract with Warner Bros. requires the resort to add elements from the final movies in the series - the last of which isn't scheduled to arrive in theaters until 2011.
The contract even states that the later movies must be represented "in generally similar per-movie proportion" as the first five films.
Posted on Mon, Mar 09, 2009 @ 05:16 PM
Harry Potter Wizarding World at Universal Studios
I had the opportunity to visit Universal & Islands of Adventure the other day and got to see first hand the progress of Harry Potter Wizarding World that is set to open in 2010.
I was also able to get a few photo's and you can tell by them that it is going to be very big and very exciting. The downfall to all the construction going on right now is that the Dueling Dragons ride is a very busy area right now since that is the area of the new attraction.
Posted on Fri, Jan 30, 2009 @ 06:39 AM
Harry Potter Going Good at Islands of Adventure
In 2010, Universal's Island of Adventure will open a new Harry Potter-Themed Island, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, possibly incorporating elements from The Lost Continent. It will feature three different areas: The Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade Village, and Hogwarts Castle itself. Three attractions (not known yet) will come with this land, as well as many Harry Potter themed shops and restaurants.